Reamer



Feb. 9, 1932.

J. GRANT REAHER 2 Sheets-Shoot 1 r. 2. f y m m e v r m! fin; m F. 6 4 0 0 JV w I H 0 2 2 2553:; l i fi mu N w ,P l l II iz L FEEL? 7 1| 1 2 :1 1 r 4 I 2 i a L J 2 V Feb 9, 1932. J NT 1,844,356

REAMER Filed April 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l reaming of wells.

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 PATENT i OFFICE JOHN GRAN T, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA REAMER Application filed April 16,

This invention has relation to expanding reamers and, although not limited particularly to the specified type of work, has been designed, in its more SllQClfiC details, for the Further, although the specific design at present embodying the invention is for the purpose of taking a light reaming cut, without having sufficient expansion to perform the operation commonly known as under-reaming, the invention itsell, its mechanism and mode of operation, is not necessarily limited, although it may be peculiarly adaptable, to that form of exanding reamer which has only a slight expansion and is therefore particularly useful for reaming rather than for underreaming.

Thus, as a general object, there is the provision of a simple, sturdy and effective form of expansiblc reamer; the more particular obj is to provide an expansible reamer that is particularly, but not limitedly, adaptable to reaming with a light cuta simple, strong and effective rcamer which need only expand by a comparatively slight amount. The invention involves, so far as I am aware, an entirely new type of expanding and contracting movement oi. the reaming cutters. The nature of this expanding and contracting movement will be better understood from a consideration or". the following expanded typical embodiment than from a general preliminary description; and I therefore proceed immediately to an explanation of such a typical embodiment, with the aid of the accmnpanying drawings in which l igurc l is a side elevation with parts shown in section, showing the reamer in its contracted condition.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the reamer in its expanded condition.

Figs. 4i; and f; are enlarged cross sections iecliively on lines t-}3, 4 and 5-5 of gure l. i

G, T and 8 are enlarged cross sections respectively on lines 66, '4'7 and 88 of Figure 2.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrative of the expanding and contracting movement of the reaming cutters and 1929. Serial No. 355,624.

Fig. 10 is a cross Figure 1.

In the drawings a reamer body 10 of suitable cross sectional design is illustrated, the body 10 having at its upper end a connected sub 11 which may, as far as operation and functions are concerned, be regarded as part of the body and is only made detachable for facility of assembly and, disassembly. The sub and body have the usual watercourse 12 extending longitudinally through them to supply circulating fluid to the bit 13 attached as usual to the lower end of the body.

The rcamer here illustrated has three cutters or cutter assemblies, although it is practicable to use two or any larger number. Illustrating the reamer thus with three out ters or cutter assemblies, the main portion of thc'body 10 is shown as being somewhat triangular in cross section so as to provide spaces or pockets, within the peripheral circle of the reamer body, in Which the cutters are located. Three faces of the central portion of the body are shown as being somewhat recessed as at 15 to accommodate the roller cutters; but the precise configuration of body, or of its faces adjacent the cutters, is of no great importance so far as the invention is concerned.

Neither is the particular characterof the cutters of any important bearing upon the invention. As will be seen from the considerati on hereinafter discussed, it is only neces sary that the cutters extend in a direction generally longitudinal of the body; their actual cuttingmembers or edges to be formed as desired. For convenience of illustration and simplicityof. description I have here shown section on line 10 10 of the cutters as including roller cutting elements mountedin pairs on the cutter splndies 21 and rotating on those spindles as axes. The spindles, in the present specific illustration, form the rotational bearings for the roller cutters; but, so far as the present invention is concerned, these spindles need only to be considered as the longitudinally extending members of the cutters or cutter assemblies, of whatever nature the cutter or assembly may be.

The general principle of cutter movement involved in this invention is one that causes wards smoothing out the smallamount of two longitudinally spaced points'one of material necessary to be removed in order to which is not at, or substantially at, the longimake a short slot. These slots 36 being lotudinal end of the longitudinally extending cated, as they are, at about the mid-points 5 cutter-to be moved, and the cutter tilted in of the cutters, are of a circumferential exa direction or'in a plane generally'circumtent equal to about half the circumferential ferential ofthereamer body,,and-, thus causswing of the upper end of a cutter spindle. ing anend ofht-he, cutter to be projected out- This last statement is not .a necessary rewardly from the reamer body beyond the striction upon the invention; the spacing of 10 circumference of the body or the normal cirthe two guide points on the cutter lengths, in cumference of cutter projection. Just how proportion-to-"the*length of the cutter, and two said spaced points are moved-by what as well as the locations of those points with kind of means they are guided and held "reference to the ends of the cutter, may be is more or less immaterialto the'invention, varied vas will become apparent.

15 except that such points be movable as is 'The lower ends of the cutter spindles 21 therein stated. .Also-whether ornot one of ware illustrated as resting loosely :in sockets such points is at or near an end of thecutter or bores :37' in the lower; part of body 10. -is,-;.ata=.leastLtoisomeiextentsandinesome re- The loosenessin these bores-allowsthelower aSPW'QS, :immaterial. ends of the'spindles a small amount of move- QQO 1Thus,,=tor; purposes of iJliI-stratiomEI-shoW ment,-- which may 'bedesirable.

2.11116 upperzends;of;the:sev,eral cutter spindle The nature ofthe expanding and contractr-2l carried"int m'es 22:in:alimitedlyrotatabl Ling movements' -will'now be best understood 9 1 223.-"mounted :on thelbO y' the -wvith "reference 1to"Figure"9, considered in -'npper.,-endiofzabddyrproper-alO-aand-:the lower connection with' the other figures. "lfn Fig. 9

:6nl:Qf&SHb,11. :Tiiisvr0tatable collarr23whas 'thezmovementis purposely;exaggeratedzand "'ithre xlownwarfiy coverhanging lugs 24 ,;is-.=iindicated diagrammatically. ln thisfig- '--.W lf1i h;0verha1rg-the previously -'described :re- *"ure point-A represents the-position of the loncessediacessloofthebody. The relationship gdtudinalaaxis' oftthe-cutteriwhen contracted, betweentheseoverhanginglug n the 'y as inrFigure-l, the cutter axis'then preferiaee e rp wl g es 13mm ably extending parallel'toaxis B of the bodyf .-6,=ian.d:from';an inspectionzand comparison of Th q l 31 31 1,: t 'the then .posithese;two'ifiguressit' will: be seen 'howath -:tionxof the'cut-ter spindle and the circular arc illflll'l23 lIaSQOIIly za .-:l imited:.;-I!Otati0n With;1'e (EGzfeprsents theiarc rcirctunferefice along aspectizto atheabo'dy =l yl t y ns s e which; the two upper controlledpoints of the sot'tlie innerrlug taces-30 and:3l.-with.tl1esev- 'icuttel' areeallowed to move. Suppose now cralxfaceszlo' of;the ibody. x-ltiwi-ll. also, be --thatrtheruppe1"end Utand themid point M asreadi'ly .iunclerstood, {tom-r2111 :inspection of ,tdfthe ttg ll dqt move aroundlthe Figures.3;;and6ihowthe upper endsof: cutter i f thejupper i tfU b i rap -spinuesiglfialthough y Isomewhal? lowedtounove through twice the circumferloose'lywmonnted in bores 22 inworder tov' senti al -angle :that is allowed mid-point -M.

commodatethegtiltinggaction tobeidescribed, I -rth ct impl m g h n-i m 15a- .i'are:movablewitliqthevrotating collar -;23 in .gpamihecutter then takes the ti UML directions.esubstantially circuniferential of {b ht 3 1 s ti th-l e d 5f the body. 1 the cutter or cutter spin dle. Now, if the 46w irfihelro'tating collar-imonnt ifort'he 1 p controlled ipoint M is at'the middle of' the eendsiof'zthecntterisp n 0i cutterwlengthiand that point moves half as causingsubstantially-4circumferentialmiov far asthe upper point 1U, then,asisapp'arent -ment of -certainjpointsonzthe cutter spindles. f th di thgl i t L not l -A'nQl'1heIl-ma11nel5fiicimsillgSubstantially amoves outwardly from its initial position A cumferential movement iisf illustrated :and b t l moves i th di e shown sas .iappliedatowpoints located about f tiaHy as the points -U and M have "Qentnallyfof th -fip lg A moved ;.;and-the boreorsocket 37 is of;such epoints athe body is {provided with l11g 5 size and placement that when the lower fi y ctm'vienienflyTbelwelfiledintoipmce spindle endhas reached the position shown at -andsthusgform substantiallyzinteglfi il t 5 21b, correspondingito the lower end position .itheebod'y. ispindlesfilrpassft hiough vertical L, the l we nd ofthe spindle illi-hen bear openingsr36ithronghrthese Jugs-T35. 'Openf-againstthe wall of the socket in such a di- -ings s36 'rare zin :the mature-of slotsprwhose tio as indicated by the arrow D, which ilengt-hs extenchcircnmferentiallyjinathe'body. direction is not, radially utward f1'0n1. .the

eAsrthetiltinglanovementsofzthe cutters are "body, but is at least to some extent circum- ;comparativelyssmall; the lengths of slots 86 ferential of the body. This is desirable be- ;a'ne 'compauatively small; JlZllQSG: slots beingz' cause, withthe body rotating in the direcmade :"by {the ilrilli-ng of two offset moui'id 'tion indicated'by the large arrow on Figure holes on centers located substantially-on the 'tlan'd the'various sectionaliviews', and with circumference OIE"'tl1GCbOdy,:Zt11dJthE11:2lfl)1'- the reaction thrust on the cutter h'aving' a "1:30

m'unterential thrust.

circumferential component directed oppositely to the rotation, it is desirable that the lower end of the cutter be backed up by a hearing that takes at least a part of the cir- The exact direction of the thrust on the lower expanded end of the cutter varies with varying formations, the speed at which cutting is being done, etc.; but, in general, the thrust direction on the cutter is somewhere between a direction radial to the body and a direction circumferential of the body, for instance, somewhat as indicated by the directional arrow T. By making the bore 37 in the nature of a slot as is indicated in dotted lines S in Figure 9, still better support for the expanded lower end of the cutter is obtained; and this may be done in cases where the pressure on the cutter heavy.

Further discussing Figure 9 it will immediately be seen that, on the supposition that point M is the cutter mid-point, a point Ml may readily be selected on circumference C at which, if the movement of point M were limited thereto, the lower end point L of the cutter would then rest on the radial line B through the initial position point A; and the lower end of the cutter would not in that case have moved circumferentially of the hcdy to reach its expanded position. Thus. still assuming that point M is the cutter mid-point, the point of movement M1 (the limit of movement of the cutter point M) can be selected so as either to give the lower end L a movement circumferentially in the direction of thrust (opposite to the direction of the body rotation) or to give the lower end L no circumferential movement, or to give the lower end L a circumferential movement component in a direction opposite the thrust (that is, to malre the point L move oil to the left of the radial line B).

On the other hand supposing that the point it represents a fixed point to which the cuttor point M always moves, then the ultimate position of lower point L depends upon the relative longitudinal position of the cutter point M. in the diagram I have supposed that the movement point M represents half the movement that the movement point U, for the upper end of the cutter, represents; and that the point M is in the middle of the cutter length. Suppose, however, that the lower length liflL of the cutter is longer than the upper length UM. This condition would be represented in the diagram of Figure 9 merely by extending the line ML an appropriate distance. tccordingly, by making the lower length ML appropriately longer than the upper length UM, the point L can again he broiiight to the radial. line R or can even be carried to the left of that radial line in Figure 9.

Cllhus it will readily he seen that the line of nioven'ient, and the expanded position point,

of the lower end of the cutter depends upon two factors, first, the position of thecontrol point M with relation to the other control point U and the free point L and, second, upon the relative amounts of controlled movement allowed the points U and M. lVithout going into complications of mathematical formula to express these relationships, it will readily be seen that, 011 the supposition that the points U and M move in similar circumferential movements of dillerent lengths (which, however, are not necessary limitations on the invention) then, in order to obtain some substantial movement of the lower or tree point L in the direction of thrust on the cutter, it is desirable that the movement ratio AM to MU be not less than substantially the ratio LM to MU; or the ratio of movement AM to the movement AU be not less than substantially the length LM to the lengthLU. And, although not necessarily, it is desirable that the lower or free point L, move for expansion in the direction of thrust, or at least not move against the thrust direction; because in the latter case the thrust will i then have the effect of opposing the expansion.

The cutter, mounted and moved as QX plained, moves its lower or free point outwardly, because of the fact that the upper end of the cutter is moved around circumferentially under the influence of the drag thrust of the formation on the cutters themselves and also on the rotatable collar 23; and also because, in the preferred format least, the

lower. or free end of the cutter also moves circumferentially in the direction of the drag thrust. Although the drag thrust on the upper parts of the cutter, represented by the points U and M, may be comparatively light because those points are not radially expanded, the fact that those points move circumferentially further than does the lower or tree point L gives the trust at those points a leverage advantage over the thrust at the free point L and thus causes the latter point to be forced outwardly.

A few other considerations remain to be noted. As will readily be understood from a consideration of Figure 9, it is not necessary that the movements of the two controlled points U and M, be exactlycircumterential or exactly like each other. For in stance, it the upper controlled point U has moved from A to a position radially inside the point marked U in Figure 9, the tree point L will project further; it to a point radially outside the point marked U, the free point L will not project so far. Conversely, with the point M located inside (toward the central axis B) of the point marked M in Figure 9, or be located outside that point marked M, the tree point L will then be closer to the point A (have less expansion) or lo c'at'ed filrthcr fromthe point A (have more cutter end.

expansion). i

Thus, within limits that will be readily understood, the movements of the two points U and M need not be exactly circumferential or {exactly like each other, r The secoind remaining feature is this: that the point 'U need not be at or substantially at an end of the cutter. It islonly necessary, as 'herei nbe fore indicated, that the two controlled movement points U and Mbespaced from each other, and that one, at least, of them, be not at theend of the cutter; Accord- 'ingly, as ii' idicated by the dottedline extension UUl in Figuretl the cutter may extend lon gi tudinally beyond the point U; and the free :end U1 then becomes*an'expanding end which "will expand just like the free end L.

Throughout this description I have reierred to the free end L as being thelower end of the cutter. It willbe apparent, however, that the arrangement may be reversed, if desired, making the free end L the upper 1. In an expanding reame'r, thercombination of a body rotatable about a longitudinal 'ax is,' a cutter normally extending substantially longitudinally of the body, and means for guidingjand limiting two longitudinally spaced points oi'the cutter in limited'tmovementshaving a direction circumferential of t he"'-b'ody, atleast one of said guided spaced poi'nts being longitudinally spaced from an end o f the cutter and one of the guidedand li'mited movements being of lesser extent than the other. I A

2. In an expanding reamer, theoombination of abody rotatable about ailongitudinal axis, a cutter normally extending-substantially longitudinally of the body, and meansfor guiding and limiting two longitudinally spaced .points'of the cutter in limited movements substantially circumferential of the body, at least one of saidguidedspaced points being longitudinally spaced'from an end of the cutter and one of the guided and limited smov'ements being of lesser extent than the other. g

3. In an expanding reamer, the combination of a body rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a cutter normally extending substantiallylong-itudina'lly of the body, and means for guiding and limiting two longitudinally spaced points of the cutter in limited movements having a direction circumferential of the body, one 01"- the guided and limited moveme'ritsbeing of lesser extent than the other.

' ijln an expanding reamer, the'combinati on of a bOC y rotatable about alongitudinal axi s, a cutter normally extending substan- {tially longitudinally of the body, and means '-'for guiding and limitingtwo longitudinally spaced points of the cutter in limited move- -ments substantially circumferential of the body, one of the. guided and limited move- :mentsbeing ofqlesser extent than the other.

'5. In an expanding reamer, the combination otta body rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a cutter. normally extending substantially longitudinally of the body, and means for guiding two longitudinally spaced points of the cutters in movements having a direction circumferential of the body,at least one of said gu-ided spaced points being longitudinally spaced from an end of the cutter, the ratiooi the two limited movements of the two said spaced :p'ointsybeing substantially the same as the ratio of the distances of the respective points from said end of the cutter.

6. In an expanding rea-mer, the combina 'tion eta body rotatable abouta longitudinal axis, a cutter normally extending substantially longitudinally of the body, and means for guiding two longitudinallyspaced points of the cutter in movements substantially circumferentialo'fthebody, at least one of said guided spaced points being "longitudinally spaced from an end ot the cutter,the ratio of the two limited movements of the two said spaced :p'oints being substantially thesame as the ratio of the distances fOftllQ respective ,pointsfiromsaid end of thecutter. V "F. ln'an expanding reamer, the combination 'of a body rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a cutter normally extending substantially longitudinally of the, body, and means for guiding and limiting two longitudinally spaced points ofthe cutter in limited movements. having a direction circumferential of the body, atlQEISt'OIIB OffSELlCl guided spaced points being longitudinallyspaced from an end-ofthec'utter, one ofthe guidedfand limitfed movementsbeing of lesserextent than the other and a -bearing surface on the body against which said cutter end bears in a direction non-radialtothe center of the bodyg. '8. In an expanding reamer, thecombination of a body rotatable about a longitudinal axis,ya cutter normally extending substantiallylongitudinally ofthebodyyand means for guidingtwolongitudinally spaced points i of the cutter in movements substantially circumferential of'the body, at least one of said guided spaced, pointslgbeing longitudinally spaced from an end 'ot the cutter, the ratio of the two limited movements ofthe two said spaced'points being substantially the sameas the" ratio of the distances of the respective points-from said end fofthe cutter and a 1 bearing surface on the-body against-which said cutter end bears in a direction non-radial tothe center of the body. I

9. In an expansible 'ream'er, tlieeombination of abody rotatable about a'longitudinal axis, a cutter extending substantially longitudinally of the body, guiding and limiting means on the 'body and engaging thec'u-tter at apoint longitudinally spaced from one cutter end and g'uidin'gthat engaged point of the cutter in a movement directed circumferentially of the body, and another guiding and limiting means on the body engaging the cutter at a point longitudinally spaced from the first guiding means and guiding its engaged point in a direction circumferential of the body, one of said guided and limited points being limited by its said means to more ,llltllll of lesser extent than that of the other said point.

10. In an eirpansible reamer, the combination of a body rotatable about a longitudinal s a cutter QXtGIlCllllg substantially longitudinally of the body, guiding means on the body and engaging the cutter at a point longitudinally spaced from one cutter end and guidine' that eiiigaged point at the cutter in a movement directed circumferentially of the body, and another guiding means on the body engaging the cutter at a point near an end of the cutter and guiding its engaged point in a direction circumferential of the body, the .lirst mentioned point being limited by its said insane to movement of lesser extent th an that of the second mentioned point.

ll. ln an expansible reamer, the combination of a body adapted for rotation about a itudinal axis, a collar rota-table on and 11 reference to the body and having means for holding one end of a longitudinally extending cutter, a lug on the body longitudinally spaced from the rotating collar and having a closed-ended eireu f ti ll tendin slot through which the media]. portion of said cutter may extend, and said longitudinally entending cutter engaging said collar and said lug slot and extending longitudinally beyond. said slotted lug.

12. lo an cxpansible reamer, the combination of a body adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a rotating collar on the body and having means for holding one end of a longitudinally extending cutter, a lug on the body longitudinally spaced from the rotating collar and having a circumferentially extending slot through which the medial por tion of said cutter may extend, and said longitiulinally extending cutter engaging said collar and said lug slot and extending longitudinally beyond said slotted lug, the rotational movement of said collar being limited With relation to the body and the circumferential length of the lug slot being less than the rotational freedom of said collar.

13. la an expansible reamer, the combination of a body adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a rotating collar on the body and having means for holding one end of a longitudinally extending cutter, a lug on the body longitudinally spaced from the rotating collar and having a circumferentially eat-ending slotthrough WlllCll the medial portion of said cutter may extend, and said longitudinally extending cutter engaging said collar and said lug slot and extending longitudinally beyond said slotted lug, the rotational movementof said collar being limited with relation to the body and the circumferential length of the lug slot being less than the rotational freedom of said collar, and the ratio of circumferential movement of the cutter in the lug slot to the rotational movement of the end of the cutter in the rotating collar being substantially not less than the ratio of the length distances of the lug engaged point and the collar engaged point, 1'espectively,from the projecting end of the cutter.

l l. In an expansive reamer, the combination of a body adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a medial portion of the body being recessed for reception of cutters, the body at one end of its recessed portion having cutter-receiving sockets, cutters having each one end held in said cuttenreceiving sockets and extending therefrom substantially longitudinally of the body, a limitedly rotatable collar mounted around the body at the other end of the body recessed portion, said collar having sockets receiving and holding the other ends of the cutters, and means on the body located at a medial part of the body recessed portion and engaging the cutters at points medial in their lengths to limit the circumferential movements of the cutters at those points.

15. In an expansive reamer, the combination. of a body adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis, a medial portion of the body being recessed for reception of cutters, the body at one end of its recessed portion having eutter-receiving sockets, cutters having each one end held in said cutter-receiving sockets and extending therefrom substantially longitudinally of the body, a limitedly rotatable collar mounted around the body at the other end of the body recessed portion, said collar having sockets receiving and holding the other ends of the cutters, and slotted lugs on the body rotated at a medial part of the body recessed portion, said lugs having circumferentially extending slots through which medial portions of the cutters pass and by which slots the cutters are guided at such medial points in the movements directed circumferentially of the body and limited in such movements to less than the circumferential movements of the ends of the cutters which are held in said limitedly rotatable collar.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of March, 1929,

JOHN GRANT. 

